Part of: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, 12 vols. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, vol. 1
- Edward Gibbon (author)
- William Edward Hartpole Lecky (introduction)
- John Bagnell Bury (editor)
The first volume of a 12 volume set of Gibbon’s magisterial history of the end of the Roman Empire, one of the greatest works of history written during the Enlightenment.
Key Quotes
Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots
The obvious definition of a monarchy seems to be that of a state, in which a single person, by whatsoever name he may be distinguished, is entrusted with the execution of the laws, the management of the revenue, and the command of the army. But unless public liberty is protected by intrepid and…
Politics & Liberty
It was scarcely possible that the eyes of contemporaries should discover in the public felicity the latent causes of decay and corruption. This long peace, and the uniform government of the Romans, introduced a slow and secret poison into the vitals of the empire…Their personal valour remained, but…
Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots
The slave of Imperial despotism, whether he was condemned to drag his gilded chain in Rome and the senate, or to wear out a life of exile on the barren rock of Seriphus, or the frozen banks of the Danube, expected his fate in silent despair. To resist was fatal, and it was impossible to fly. On…